Electromechanical switch



W. J. BURCHETT.

ELECTROMECHANICAL SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZB, 1919.

Patented May 11, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I W. J. BURCHETT.

ELECTROMECHANICAL SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZB. I919.

Patented May 11, 1920.

3 S.HEETSSHEET 2.

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ELECTROMECHANICAL SWITCH.

APPLICATION FI LED MAY 28. 1919.

Patented May 11, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER J. .BURc-nnrr, .or nnsr cannon, new JnnsE nssrenon 11o snoon vr,

AVRAM & SLOCIIM LABOBATtBBIES, me, or ,ivnwanx, EW Jansen; e 3:

PORATIQN 01* NEW YORK.

E norRo EonA vIcAL -s wrron.

specif cation of Letters Patent.

P n ed May 11 9 9 Application filed May .28, 1919. :Serial No...300,365.

form and certain in operation, said switch mechanism being of suchcharacter that there is no possibility of a sustained circuit beingestablished.

My invention also embodies certain minor details of construction, ashereinafter will be pointedout more definitely, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved device, the inclosing coverbeing removed.

Fig. 2 is a sid elevation of the same, the inclosing cover being shownin section, and the main supporting bracket being shown partly brokenaway.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the central shaft and-theoperating pawl mechanism carried thereby.

Fig. il is a similar view oftheratchetand cam operated by said pawl.

Fig. his a similar view :ofthespring inclosing cup.

Fig; '6 is a similar view of the contact plate and its parts.

.Fig. 7 is a similar view or the bell-crank trip lever.

Fig. .8 is a similar view of the adjustable stoparm.

9 is a similar view of the insulating contact lock audits contact arms.

10 is asimilar view of the spring op- I eratingthe contact plate.

Similar numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in the severalviews.

rger ap ures where y aid se p at maybe attached to any suitablesupportin proximity to or ,on the machine ;.to be registered. Mountedupon Said base plate is .a bracket (5 of U-shape, the same beingattached to the .base plate .by screws fK, as

shown in Fig. 1. This bracket 6 vis apertured centrally to receive arotatable shaft 8, stepped .at its bottom into the ;b a se ,plate 1.Saldshaft 8 is screw-threaded,at itsupper end to receive a suitableretaining ,nut

9, and below said screw threaded portion, and just aboveasleeve 10,formed integral with the bracket ,6, is squared to receive a star wheel11 thereon, so that said wheel and shaft will rotate together.Jiemovably mounted on said shaft abovesaidsta-r wheel is an operatinglever 12, the same-having interposed between it and the nut:9 a suitablewasher l3. Said .lever 12 when in position rests directly upon the starwheel :11, and has fixed to its underside a lug :14: adapted to engagebetween any .two olithe teeth of said star wheel to connect said wheeland lever, it being understood that said lever may by this construction;be,;adju sted toany position with respectto the baseplate, so as toadapt it for use in any position in ,connection with different machines.-Saidlever 2 also has adjustably mounted thereon a fastening device 15for connecting thesame to some operating part of themachine to .beregistered, whereby the movement of ,the machine will impart anoscillatory ,movement to said ;lever-12.

Bolted tothe baseplate 1. is, an insulating block l6, shown in (detailin Fig. ,9, .which has fixed thereto two electrical spring ,contacts 17as shown. These contactsareconnected separately. to the ,two circuitwires ,18 and 19, which lead fromthe device -.th ro u gh a suitablesource of electrical energy .to a registering mechanism, wherebyvthezoperation of my improved device ..will ,be .registered. While Icontemplate :the use of my improved switch with any suitable electricregistering .mechanism, it is particularly well adapted for use inconnection with an electric counter disclosed in an application filed byme of even date herewith, Serial No. 300,367. Thecontacts 117 projectfrom .terial .rotatably mounted upon .said shaft said wheel being shownin detail in Fig. 6, and having fixed therein contact plate 21 ofconducting material, extending the shaft 8, an said sleeve also hasfinec to it a plate 23 projecting at one side to afford a contactsurface 24 and an upstanding lug for a purpose hereinafter to bedescribed. The plate 23 is provided with a series of apertures 26,radially disposed equidistant from each other, whose function is toreceive a pin 27 fixed in the underside of a cup 28, shown in detail inF 5, which is apertured centrally to fit over the sleeve 22, said pin 27and apertures 26 affording a means for adjusting said cup 28 withrespect to the plate and for maintaining it in any desired adjustedposition. v laid cup 28 receives coiled spring 29 shown in detail inFig. 10, the same being like an ordinary watch spring, and having itsouter end bent at 30 to engage a lug 31 struck inwardly from the side ofthe cup 28, the inner end 32 of said spring being bent to engage in aslot 33 formed in a sleeve 34,.also adapted to fit over the shaft 8, andin turn formed integral with a cam plate 35, shown in detail in 4, saidcam plate havingan abrupt cam face 36 and a gradual cam face 37, asshown. The upper face of said cam plate is provided with two oppositelydisposed pins 38, which are adapted to engage in apertures in a ratchetwheel 39 superimposed 7 upon said cam plate and also fitting on the PALshaft 8, whereby said cam plate and ratchet wheel are adapted to move inunison. Formed integral with the shaft 8 is an arm 40 projecting fromone side of said shaft and formed at its outer end with a stop 41. flairarm has pivoted to it a pawl 42, the same being provided with a tail 43,and said pawl being normally pressed toward the shaft 8 by a lightcoiled spring 44 mounted on its pivot. Said pawl is adapted to engagethe ratchet wheel '39 to iinpart a step-by-step movement to the latterwhen the shaft 8 is reciprocated by the movement of the lever 12, in amanner readily understood. Freely mounted upon the enlarged hub of theshaft 8, shown in detail in l 3, and imme: diately' above the arm 40, isan'arm shown in detail in Fig. 8, said arm projecting to one side andhaving mounted on its underside near its outer end an anti-frictionroller 49, adapted to be contacted with by t pawl 42 during the backn ofthe latter; the function of said roller be ng to rock the pawl. so

that while said tail 43 is in contact with said roller the pawl 42 willbe out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 39. The plate 46carrying said roller 49 is freely rotatable on the hub 45, and isprovided in its upper face with a setscrew 50 adapted to pass through anelongated slot 51 formed in the bracket 6, as shown in Fig. 1. By meansof this construction, the position'of the arm 46, and consequently ofits roller 49, with re spect to the tail 43 of the pawl 42 may beadjusted within certain limits to vary the time of engagement of saidpawl 42 with its ratchet wheel 39.

Fixed to the base plate 1 to one side of the shaft 8 is a post 52, whichhas mounted. to rock thereon a bell crank 53 comprising arms 54 and 55,shown in detail in Fig. 7, said arm 54 being bifurcated. and saidbifurcated ends being downturned to provide the stops 56 and 57, thestop 57 extending below the stop 56. The outer end of the arm con tactswith the periphery of cam wheel whereby the movement of the bell crankis controlled in a manner readily understood, said arm being retainednormally in contact with said cam wheel by the tension of a spring 58attached at oneend to a pin 59 on the arm 54 a d. at its other end toany suitable point, such as a post 60 fixed to the base 1. Also mountedon the post 52 above the bell crank 53, and separated therefrom by awasher 61 is a stop pawl 62, adapted also to engage norma ly pressedinto contact with said the ratchet wheel 39, said pawl being ratchetwheel by a light spring 63, connected I with an apertured projection 64thereon and with a post 65 on the arm of'the bell crank it beingunderstood that the tension of said spring is less than that of thespring 58.

The operation of my improved device is as follows: The arm 40 is limitedin its movement in one directionby the engagement of the stop 41 thereonwith a post 66 fixed to the underside of the bracket 6, and by theengagement of said stop 41 with the vertical portion of the bracket 6itself, so that the reciprocating movement of the lever 12, which,through the shaft 8, moves with said arm 40, must be within the limitsof these two stops. When the device is positioned to register themovements of a particular machine, therefore, the lever 12 must beadjusted on the shaft 8, through the engagement of its lug 14 with thestar wheel 11 so that the movement imparted to said lever by the machinewill be within the limits of the two stops hereinbefore referred to.will impart movement in one direction to the ratchet wheel 39 by theengagement therewith of the pawl 42, carried by the arm 40, and thisengagement may be vhriec by an adjustment of the plate 46 carrying theroller 49, which roller contacts with the tail 43 of the pawl 42 at somepoint in the upward movement of the lever 12. Thus by loosening theset-screw 50, thearm 46 may The downward stroke of the lever 12 V beadjusted, within the limits of the slot 51, in the bracket-6 so astovary thetiine of contactbetweel'r the roller'49'and the tail 43 of thepawl 42, whereby the ratchet 39 will be moved a greater or less numberof teeth upon each stroke of the lever 12, as may be desired. Thus, theratchet 39 may be moved two teeth or a greater number of teeth,according tothe adjustment of the roller 49 with respect to the tail 43of the ratchet 42. Inasmuch as'itrequires a complete rotation of theratchet 39 for'each closing of the electric circuit by the device, itfollows that by means-of this adjustment the number of electricimpulsesper operations of the machine being registered may be varied asdesired. The step-by-step movement of the ratchet 39 carries with it thesleeve 34, to which the inner end of the spring 29 isattached, and asthe outer end of said spring is held fixed temporarily by the cup 28, ina manner hereinafter de scribed, the result will be that thereciprocations of the'lever 12 gradually will wind said spring 29, itbeing understood that the ratchet 39 is held against reverse movement bythe engagement therewith of the pawl 62. This winding of the spring willcontinue until the cam plate 35, which'rotates with the ratchet 39, hasmoved to the position shown in Fig. .1, when the inner end 550i the bellcrank 53, which rides against the exterior cam surface of said plate 35,will register with the abrupt shoulder 36 of said cam, thereby admittingit, under the tension of the spring58', to spring inward, thus movingits other end 54 outward. During this step-by-step winding of the spring29, the plate 23, which is connected to the cup 28 carrying said springby means of the engagement of the pin 2'? with any one of the apertures26 in said plate 23, will be held by the tension of said spring so thatits projecting contact surface 24 will be in engagement with thedown-turned stop 57 of the arm 54 of the bell-crank 53, therebypreventing rotation of thecup 28, plate 23 and contact wheel to whichsaid plate 23 is fixed. But when the ratchet 39 has been rotated tobring the arm 55 into register with the abrupt cam face of the cam plate35, thereby rocking the arm 54 outward, this movement will carry saidstop 5'2" outwardly away from the contact surface 24, thereby releasingthe arm 23, and consequently the cup 28 and contact wheel 20. The spring29 now being under a maximum tension will cause an immediate rotation ofsaid parts 20, 23 and 28, which will result in a circuitclosing contactbetween the contact plate 21 of the wheel 20 and the contacts 17,thereby transmitting an electric impulse to the counting mechanism orother point to be energize It is essential that the rotation of thecontact wheel 20 shall be one complete rotation and no more, in orderthat the contacts 17 may come to rest upon the insulated portion of saidwhee-l, so that all danger of an established circuit shall be avoided.This I accomplish by providing the stop 56 on arm 54 slightly in advanceof the stop 57 When the bell crank lever 53" is: rocked to release theplate 23, the stop 56 is rocked outward to lie in the path of the stopon the plate 23, so that as the tension of spring 29 rotates: its partsone complete revolution, the stop 25 will come into contact with thestop 56, which arrests further movement. Now, upon the furtherreciprocation of the lever 12, the movement of the ratchet 39 a distanceof three teeth will bring the gradual cam face 37 into contact with thearm 5501? the bell crank 53, thus gradually rocking said arm 55 outward,and consequently the arm 54 thereof inward. This movement willcarry thestop 56 inside of the stop 25, thereby releasing the latter, but saidmovement also carries the stop 57 into the line of mov ment of the outerstop 24 on plate 23, so that beyond a very slight movement necessary todisengage stops 25 and 56 the movement of the contact wheel 20 still isarrested, and said wheel remains stationary until the arm 55 againregisters with the abrupt cam 95 face 36, whereupon the operationhereinbefore described will be repeated. 7

By this construction I am enabled to impartan electric impulse throughthe wires 18 and 19 to any suitable counting mechanism once for anydesired number of reciprocations oi the lever 12 within certain limits..That is to say, an electrical impulse may be'imparted once in sixstrokes of said lever, or may be accelerated up to once in threestrokes, the frequency of the electrical impulses being dependent uponthe adjustment of the roller 49 with respect to the tail 43 of the pawl42, whereby the ratchet 39 is moved a greater or less number of teeth"for each reciprocation of the lever 12. It will be observed that whenthe device is at rest the contacts 17 rest upon the insulated portion ofthe contact wheel 20, and when said wheel 20 and its parts are released.to be 115 subjected to the tension of the spring 29, a complete rotationof said wheeltalres place, thereby sweeping the contact plate 21 of saidwheel between the contacts 17, but bringing said wheel at rest insubstantially 120 the position from which it started, thus eiiectuallypreventing any closed circuit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLettersPatcut, is

1. In a device of the character described, a lever adapted to beoscillated by the machine to be registered, a shaft carrying andoperated by said lever, a contact'wheel, circuit closing contacts inengagement with '1-30 said wheel normally upon its non-conductmgportion, a sprlng adapted when put under tension, to rotate said wheelin one direction, connections intermediate said lever and spring forwinding said spring, and means automatically released for permitting thetension of said. spring to be exerted upon said wheel to rotate it onecomplete turn.

2. In a device of the character described, a lever adapted to beoscillated by the machine to be registered, a shaft carrying andoperated by said lever, a contact wheel, cira lever adapted to beoscillated by the ma chine to be registered, a shaft carrying andoperated by sald lever, a contact wheel also mounted rotatably upon saidshaft, circuit closing contacts in engagement with said wheel normallyupon its non-conducting por tion, a springadapted, when put undertension, to rotate said wheel in one direction, connections intermediatesaid lever and spring, and also mounted on said shaft, for winding saidspring, and means automatically released for permitting the tension ofsaid spring when wound to be exerted upon said wheel to rotate it onecomplete turn.

4. In a device of the character described, a lever adapted to beoscillated by the machine to be registered, a shaft carrying and oerated by said lever, a contact wheel also mounted rotatably upon saidshaft, circuit closing contacts in engagement with said wheel normallyupon its non-conducting portion, a spring adapted, when put undertension, to rotate said wheel in one direction, connections intermediatesaid lever and spring, and also mounted on said shaft, for winding saidspring, means automatically released for permitting the tension of saidspring when wound to be exerted upon said wheel to rotate it onecomplete turn, and means for stopping said. wheel when it has completedsaid turn.

5. In a device of the character described, a lever adapted to beoscillated by the ma chine to be registered, a shaft carrying andoperated by said lever, a ratchet wheel on said shaft ada ted to beoperated step-bystep in one direction by the vibration of said lever, acup also on said shaft, a contact Wheel fixed to said cup, circuitclosing contacts in engagement with said wheel normally upon itsnon-conducting portion, a spring in said cup adapted to be put undertension by the step-bystep operation of said ratchet wheel, and meansfor automatically releasing said spring periodically to permit it toexert its tension on said cup to rotate the latter and said contactwheel.

6. In a device of the character described, a lever adapted to beoscillated by the machine to be registered, a shaft carrying andoperated by said lever, aratchet wheel on said shaft adapted to beoperated step-bystep in one direction by the vibration of said lever, acup also on said'shaft, a contact wheel fixed to said cup, circuitclosing contacts in engagement with said wheel normally upon itsnon-conducting portion, a spring in-said cup adapted to be put undertension by thestep-by-step operation of said ratchet wheel, means forautomatically releasing said spring periodically to permit it to exertits tension on said cup to rotate the latter and said contact wheel, andmeans automatically stopping said rotation of the contact wheel upon thecompletion of one rotation.

7. In a device of the character described, I

a lever adapted to be oscillated by the machine to be registered, ashaft carrying and operated by said lever, a ratchet wheel on said shaftadapted to be operated step-bystep in one direction by the vibration -ofsaid lever, a cup also on said shaft, a contact wheel fixed to said cup,circuit closing contacts in engagement with said wheel normally upon itsnon-conducting portion, a spring in said cup connected at one end tosaid cup and at its other end to said ratchet wheel, means for holdingsaid cup and contact wheel against rotation whereby the step-by-stepmovement of said ratchet wheel will wind said spring, and means forautomatically releasing said cup, and contact wheel periodically torotate the same.

8. In a device of the character described, a lever adapted to beoscillated by the machine'to be registered, a shaft carrying andoperated by said lever, a ratchet wheel on said shaft adapted tobe'operated step-bystep in one direction by the vibration of said lever,a cup also onsaid shaft, a contact wheel fixed to said cup, circuitclosing contacts in engagement with said wheel normally upon itsnon-conducting portion, a spring in said cup connected at one end tosaid cup and at its other end to said ratchet wheel, means for holdingsaid cup and con tact wheel against rotation whereby the stepbysstepmovement of said ratchet wheel will wind said spring, means forautomatically releasing said cup and contact wheel periodically torotate the same, and means automatically stopping said rotation of thecup and contact wheel upon the completion of one rotation.

face therein, a circuit closer engaging said Wheel normally upon thenon-conducting portion thereof, a spring, means operated by the machineto be registered for winding said spring, and means automaticallyreleasing said spring to permit it to exert its tension on said contactwheel to rotate the latter one complete rotation, thus sweeping itscontact surface past said circuit closer.

10. In a device of the character described, a rotary contact Wheelhaving a contact surface therein, a circuit closer engaging said Wheelnormally upon the non-conduct-- iug portion thereof, a spring, meansoperated by the machine to be registered for winding said spring, meansautomatically releasing said spring to permit it to exert its tension onsaid contact wheel to rotate the latter to sweep its contact surfacepast said circuit closer, and means automatically stopping said rotationof the contact wheel upon the completion of one rotation.

11. In a device of the character described, a rotary contact wheelhaving a contact surface therein, a circuit closer engaging said wheelnormally upon its non-conducting portion thereof, a spring, meansoperated by the machine to be registered for winding said spring, a cammovable with said spring Winding mechanism, a bell crank lever operatedby said cam, cooperating stops on said lever and wheel operating duringthe winding of said spring to retain said Wheel against rotation, andother stops on said lever and wheel cooperating to check said Wheel whenit has completed one rotation under the tension of said spring, theaction of saidstops being controlled by the action of said cam on saidlever.

12. In a device of the character described, a rotary contact wheelhaving a contact surface therein, a circuit closer engaging said wheelnormally upon its nonconducting portion thereof, a spring, meansoperated by the machine to be registered for Winding said spring, a cammovable with said spring winding mechanism, a bell crank lever havingone arm operated by said cam and carrying on its other arm an inner andan outer stop out of alinement, and an inner and an outer stop fixed tosaid contact wheel and cooperating with said lever stops, the wholeoperating through the cam control so that while the spring is beingwound'the contact wheel first will be held against rotation, then Willbe released to be rotated by said spring, and finally will be stoppedupon the completion of one rotation.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my hand, this 21st day of May,1919.

WALTER J. BURCHETT.

